Master of Science Degree (M.S.)

General Requirements: To meet general requirements for a master's degree a student must:

1. Complete the course work requirements of a Plan I or II program within the identified deadline dates (described below);

2. Fulfill any additional department or graduate unit requirements (e.g., foreign language or skill requirement, practicum, etc.);

3. Maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher;

4. Have a Program of Studies approved by the Dean of Graduate Studies;

5. Include no more than a total of 6 hours of course work graded C, C+, or CR;

6. Complete degree requirements within seven years.

Requirements specific to individual degree programs are described in the appropriate sections of this catalog.

Time Limit for Completion of Degree: All work used to meet degree requirements for a Master of Science degree, including transfer credit, must be completed within a seven year period immediately preceding the granting of the degree. Course work older than seven years cannot be used to meet requirements for the master's degree. Graduate units may impose stricter limitations on the time limit for completion of degree requirements.

Plans I and II 

Master of Science degree programs at The University of New Mexico are completed under one of two plans, as described below. These are referred to as Plans I and II. Some programs offer students the option of following either of these two plans, while others offer only one. The Master of Science Degree program emphasizing clinical research follows the Plan II requirements.  In addition to the general requirements listed above, the following specific requirements apply:

 

Plan I Requirements 

1. A minimum of 24 hours of course work, with a minimum of 15 hours in the major field.

2. A minimum of 6 hours of 500-level course work.

3. A maximum of 6 hours in "problems" courses and a maximum of 5 hours of workshop credit.

4. At least 50% of required course work must be completed after admission to the graduate program, unless further limited by the graduate program.

5. Six hours of Thesis (599) credit.

6. Pass the Master of Science Degree examination and/or Final Examination for a Thesis.

7. Completion of a master's thesis.

Plan II Requirements 

1. A minimum of 32 hours of course work, with a minimum of 18 hours in the major field.

2. A minimum of 12 hours of 500-level courses.

3. A maximum of 12 hours in "problems" courses and a maximum of 8 hours of workshop credit.

4. At least 50% of course work requirements completed after admission to the graduate program, unless further limited by the graduate program.

5. A professional paper in the area of study worthy of publication in a professionally reviewed journal.

Doctoral Degree (Ph.D.)

The doctorate is a degree representing broad scholarly attainments, a deep grasp of a field of study, and expertise in conceiving, conducting, and reporting original and individual research. As such, its attainment is no mere matter of meeting requirements. Those requirements described below should be viewed only as a minimal formal context in which the student is expected to grow to the professional stature denoted by the doctoral degree.

Degree Requirements  

1. A minimum of 48 hours of graduate credit course work (certain graduate programs require more hours).
2. At least 24 hours of graduate credit course work must be completed at The University of New Mexico.
3. At least 18 hours graduate credit course work must be completed after admission to the doctoral program at The University of New Mexico.
4. A minimum of 18 hours of graduate credit course work must be earned in The University of New Mexico courses numbered 500 or above.
5. No more than 50% of the required course credits at The University of New Mexico may be taken with a single faculty member. (Course work that has been completed for the master's degree is included in this limit.)
6. A minimum of 18 hours of dissertation credits (699) is required for the doctorate.
7. Doctoral candidates must be enrolled the semester in which they complete degree requirements, including the summer session.
8. Successful completion of doctoral comprehensive examination
9. Successful completion of doctoral defense

Doctoral Committee on Studies  

Each doctoral student is strongly encouraged to assemble a committee on studies to assist in planning a program of studies. This program should be designed to foster a fundamental knowledge of the major field, both in depth and in breadth. The committee generally includes three University of New Mexico faculty members approved by the student's graduate unit. The chairperson is usually the student's major advisor. If the committee on studies will also serve as the doctoral comprehensive examination committee, they must meet the requirements listed in that section.

The basic role of the committee is to plan, with the student, an integrated individual program of study and research meeting general University and specific graduate program requirements. The Committee may also establish prerequisites when needed; recommend transfer of credit; certify proficiency in a foreign language or alternative skill; approve significant changes in the program of studies; and may serve as the core of the doctoral comprehensive examination committee and/or the dissertation committee (see composition criteria for dissertation committees).

Doctoral Comprehensive Examination

Doctoral student must pass a comprehensive examination in the major field of study. This examination, written and oral, is not limited to the areas of the student’s course work, but tests the student’s grasp of the field as a whole. The doctoral comprehensive examination committee (usually the student's Committee on Studies) consists of a minimum of three members approved for committee service.  Two members must be in Category 1 or 3; the chair of the committee must be in Category 1, or 3 if within the student’s major; one member must be from Category 1; and no more than one voting member can be in Category 4.

If a student fails the examination, the Committee on Studies may recommend a second examination, which must be administered within one calendar year from the date of the first examination. The doctoral comprehensive examination may be taken only twice. A second failure will result in the student’s termination from the program.

The Dissertation and Dissertation Defense

Each doctoral candidate must prepare a written dissertation. The dissertation for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy must demonstrate ability to do independent research and competence in scholarly exposition. At an advanced level, it should present the results of an original investigation of a significant problem and should provide the basis for a publishable contribution to the research literature in the major field.

The doctoral final oral examination is the last formal step before the degree is awarded and is conducted with due respect to its importance as such. The focus of the final examination is the dissertation and its relationship to the candidate’s major field.

Time Limit for Completion of Degree Requirements

Doctoral candidates have five (5) calendar years from the semester in which they pass their doctoral comprehensive examination to complete the degree requirements. Usually it takes students 5-6 to complete all of their Dissertation requirements.

It is the student’s responsibility to meet the requirement and file the paper work for their doctoral examination and dissertation defense in accordance with the rules of office of graduate studies  http://www.unm.edu/grad/index.html